Combined bar and cooler



Dec. 19,1961 W, PlEsCHEL 3,013,850

COMBINED BAR AND COOLER Filed May 9, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F 1G- l INVENTOR. `24 WALTER L. PIESCHEL A T T ORNEYS Dec. 19, 1961 w. l.. PlEscHEl.

COMBINED BAR AND COOLER Filed May 9, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGB.

.L ,n Rm! my N 1 1L :my R MW W ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,013,850 COMBINED BAR AND COOLER Walter L. Fieschel, Ludlow, Ky., assigner to The Coca- Cola BottlingWorks Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 9, 1958, Ser. No. 734,297 3 Claims. (Cl. 311-110) This invention relates to the construction of bars and coolers for dispensing refrigerated beverages, or the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a combined bar and cooler which can be readily transported in knocked-down or folded condition and which can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bar which can be readily mounted on and supported by a portable cooler.

A further object of this invention is to provide a combined bar and cooler in which legs for supporting the bar extend into sockets at ends of a cooler receptacle in which sockets demountable legs are received so that the same sockets in the cooler receptacle receive both demountable cooler legs and legs which support the bar.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bar of this type which can be mounted on coolers of various sizes.

The above `and other objects `and features of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, from the following detailed description, and the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in front elevation showing a combined bar and cooler constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the combined bar and cooler illustrated in FIG, l;

FIG. 3 is a view in rear eleva-tion of the combined bar and cooler, parts of the cooler and of a front curtain being broken away for clarity;

FIG. 4 is a view in section taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3, the curtain being removed;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a leg member which forms a part of the combined bar and cooler;

FIG. 6 is a view in section taken on the line 6-6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the bar removed from the cooler, one of the leg members of the bar being shown in folded condition;

FIG. 8 is a view in section taken along the line 8--8 in FIG. 4; Y Y

FIG. 9 is a View in rear elevation showing a combined bar and cooler constructed in accordance with another embodiment of this invention, upper leg members being shown in folded position in dot-dash lines;

FIG. l is a plan view showing the bar, a portion of the main section of the bar being broken away to reveal structural details;

FIG. 1l is an enlarged, fragmentary bottom plan View of the bar showing a portion of the underside of the bar and a leg-supporting socket which forms a portion thereof;

FIG. in FIG.

FIG. in FIG. 1l;

FIG. 14 is a View in section taken along the line 14-14 in FIG. l0;

FIG. l is a view in side elevation showing an upper leg member which forms a part of the device shownin FIGS. 9-14 inclusive, removed therefrom; and

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary view showing the bar il- 12 is a view in section taken along .the line 12-12 l l; 1.3 is a view in section taken along the line 13-13 ice lustrated in FIGS. 9-14 inclusive mounted upon another cooler.

In the following detailed description, and the drawings, like reference characters indicate like parts.

In FIGS. 1-7 inclusive is shown a combined bar and cooler constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention. As shown in FIGS. l-3 inclusive, the combined bar and cooler includes a cooler receptacle 20, lower leg members 21 and 22 which support the cooler, a bar 23 which is supported above the cooler, and leg members 24 and 26 which extend downwardly from the bar 23 to the cooler receptacle 20 and support the bar 23 above the receptacle.

The receptacle 20 and the leg members 21 and 22 which support the cooler are of the type generally shown in Patent No. 2,767,948. The receptacle 20 is an opentopped box having an inner wall 27, an outer wall 28, and insulation 29 therebetween. The interior of the cooler can be illed with ice, and bottles or cans of beverages (not shown) can be cooled therein. A drain 31l is provided for discharging wa-ter therefrom.

At the ends of the receptacle are mounted upright sleeves 32 and 33. As shown in FIG. 6, the sleeve 32 includes flanges 34 and 35 which receive screws 36 for attaching the sleeve 32 to an end portion 37 of the outer wall of the receptacle. A tin 38 divides the sleeve 32 into two sections. The construction of the sleeve 33 is similar to that of the sleeve 32, and the sleeve 33 is mounted on end portion 39 of the outer wall of the receptacle.

The lower portion of the sleeve (FIGS. 3 and 4) receives the upper end portion of the demountable leg member 21. Thevleg member 21 is formed from a length of tubing bent generally to an inverted T-shape. The cross piece 41 of the leg member 21 is adapted to rest on the ground with upright end portions 42 and 43 in sideby-side relationship and upper sections thereof releasably received inside the lower portion of the sleeve 32, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. One flange 44 of an angleshaped support member 45 (see FIG. 3) is attached to upright end portions 42 and 43 by rivets 46. The other flange 47 of the angle-shaped member 44 is adapted to underlie the body of the receptacle adjacent the left hand end thereof, as shown in FIG. 3, for supporting the left hand end of the receptacle. The lower portion of the sleeve 33, in a similar manner, receives the upper end portion of the leg member 22, which is similar in construction to the leg member already described. An angleshaped member 48 attached to the leg member 22 has a flange 49 which underlies the bottom of the receptacle adjacent the right hand end thereof for supporting the right hand end of the receptacle.

The leg members 24 `and 26 which support the bar 23, are similar in construction to the leg member 21. As shown in FIG. 5, the leg member 24 is of generally T-shape and includes a cross piece 50 and lower end portions 50a and 5011. One ilange 51 of an angleshaped support member 52 is attached to the end portions 50a and 50h by rivets 52a. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cross piece 50 underlies the bar 23, and the bar rests on the cross piece 50. The end portions 50a and 50b of n with the ilrst mentioned leg member in supporting the bar in horizontal position.

The cross piece 50 of the leg member 24 is rotatably mounted inside a socket 56 which is attached to the underside of the bar 23. As shown in FIG. 8, the socket 56 includes a U-shaped main portion 56a inside which the cross piece 50 is received. Flanges 57 and 58 at the sides of U-shaped main portion 56 are attached to the underside of the bar 23 by screws 59. The legmember 26 is similar in construction to the leg member 24 already described and is rotatably supported in a socket 61 which is attached to the underside of the bar 23 adjacent to the opposite end thereof. When the leg member 26 is in the uprigh-t position shown in FIG. 3, the lower portion thereof is received in the upper portion of the sleeve 33.

When the bar is removed from the receptacle, the leg members 24 and 26 can be swung toward the bar to a folded position adjacent the underside of the bar. The folded position of the leg member 26 is shown in FIG. 7. The other leg member can be swung upwardly in a similar manner. When the leg members are in folded position, the bar 23 and leg members 24 and 26 mounted thereon can readily be stored or carried in a small space. When the leg members 24 and 26 lare swung downwardly to the position in FIG. 3, the lower portions thereof are firmly held in the sleeves 32 and 33 to firmly hold the bar 23 in elevated position. The bar 23 includes a main panel or portion which is generally rectangular in shape. As shown in FIG. 3, llanges 62, 63, and 64 `are attached to edges of the underside of the main portion of the bar. Hooks 66 are mounted on the flanges 62, 63, and 64 for supporting a ilexible sheet screen or curtain 67 (FIGS. 1 and 3). The curtain 67 is provided with grommets 68 along its upper edge which fit over the hooks 66. The curtain 67 hangs downwardly from the bar to enclose and hide the receptacle and leg members, as shown most clearly in FIG. l.

In FIGS. 9-14 inclusive is shown a combined bar and cooler unit which includes a bar 69. Leg members 71 and 72 are adapted to support the bar in spaced relation above a receptacle 73 (FIG. 9). The receptacle 73 is supported by leg members 74, only one of which is shown. The receptacle 73 and the leg members 74, which support the receptacle 73, are of a construction similar to those already described.

The bar 69 includes a main flat-faced board portion 75 and flanges 76, 77, and 78 extending downwardly at edges thereof. Hooks 79 mounted in the flanges 76, 77,

.and 78 support a removable curtain 80.

Z-shaped tracks 81, 82, 83, and S4 are attached to the underside of the main portion 75 of the bar (see FIG. 10). The construction of the track 81 is best shown in FIG. 13. One ilange 86 thereof is attached to the underside of the main portion 75 of the ber. 'Ihe other ilange 87 of the track 81 extends cantilever-fashion parallel to the underside of the main portion of the bar spaced therebelow. An elongated slot 88 (see FIG. 11) extends lengthwise of the ilange 87. The other tracks are similar in construction to the track 81.

A bearing member 89 spans the tracks 81 and 82 (see FIG. l). The bearing member 89 includes rigid strips 90 and 91 (FIGS. 11 and 12). End portions 92 and 93 of the strips 90 and 91, respectively, slide along and are guided by the track 81 immediately above the cantilever flange 87 thereof. Similarly, the opposite end portions 94 and 96 (see FIG. 10) of the strips 90 and 91, respectively, slide along and are guided by the track 82. As shown most clearly in FIGS. 12 and 13, bolts 97 are mounted in the end portions of the strips and extend through the elongated slots of the tracks. Wing nuts 98 mounted on the bolts 97 serve to lock the rigid strips 90 and 91 of the bearing member 89 in selected positions valong the bar 69.

The strips 90 `and 91 are linked by U-shaped bearing sleeves 161 (see FIGS. l2 to 14) and 102 (FIG. 14). The bearing sleeves 161 and 162 receive a cross piece 103 of the leg member 71. As shown in FIG. 15, the leg member 71 is generally of T-shapc-and includes thc cross piece 103 and downwardly extending legs 164 and 106 which are firmly attached to the cross piece 163. The cross piece 1113 and the legs 14 and 166 can be formed of pipe sections welded together. One Harige 167 of an angle-shaped support 168 is attached to the legs 16d and 136 by rivets 169, as shown in FIG. 9. 'lhc other llange 119 of the support 198 is adapted to rest on the left hand end wall of the receptacle 73 to support the left hand end of the bar 69, with the legs 104 and 106 received in the upper portion of an upright sleeve 111 which is mounted on the left hand end wall of the receptacle 73. A bearing member 112, which is similar in construction to the bearing member lalready described, spans the tracks 83 and 84 and receives a cross piece 113 of the leg member 72. One llange 114 of an angle-shaped support 116 mounted on the leg member 72 is adapted to rest on the top of the right hand end wall of the receptacle 73 to support the right hand end of the bar 69. The leg member 72 is similar in construction to the leg member 71 already described.

When the bar is in set-up position supported above the receptacle 73, the bar rests directly on the cross pieces of the leg members 71 and 72 and is supported thereby in horizontal position. When the bar is removed from the receptacle, the upper leg members can be swung to the positions indicated at 71a and 72a in dot-dash lincs in FIG. 9.

When the wing nuts 98 (FIGS. 1l-l3) are loosened, the bearing members can be moved along the bar to any selected position along the tracks for mounting the bar on receptacles of various sizes. In FIG. 16, the bar 69 is shown mounted on a receptacle 117 which is shorter than the receptacle already described, but is otherwise similar in construction. The bearing member 89 and leg member 71 are shown in FIG. 16 in adjusted position so that the legs thereof can be received in a sleeve 118 mounted on one end wall of the receptacle 117. Only one end portion of the receptacle 117 is shown in FIG. 16, but the other end portion is similar in construction.

The combined bar and cooler constructions described above and shown in the drawings `are subject to structural modilieation without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bar unit comprising an elongated main bar, spaced tracks on the underside of said main bar, cach of said tracks being of substantially Z-Shape and comprising a flange attached to the underside of said main bar and a second flange extending cantilever-fashion from the first mentioned ilange spaced below the main bar, a pair of bearing members spanning said tracks, each of said bearing members comprising a pair of spaced rigid strips, each end portion of each strip being received between the cantilever ilange of one of the tracks and the underside of the main bar, means carried by the end portions of the strips for locking the strips in selected positions along the tracks, .and `a pair of spaced U-shaped bearing sleeves linking the strips, and a pair of leg members, each of said leg members comprising a cross piece swingably received in the bearing sleeves of one of the bearing members, and a leg extending away from the cross piece between the bearing sleeves of the bearing member associated therewith, the main bar being supportable by the leg members with the bar resting on the cross pieces thereof.

2. A bar unit comprising an elongated main bar, spaced tracks on the underside of said main bar, each of said tracks being of substantially Z-shape `and comprising a flange attached to the underside of said main bar and a second flange extending cantileverfashion from the ilrst mentioned ilange `spaced below the main bar, a pair of bearing members spanning said tracks, each of said bearing members comprising a pair of spaced rigid strips, each end portion of each strip being received between the cantilever ange of one of the tracks and the underside of the main bar, and a U-shaped bearing sleeve linking the strips, and a pair of leg members, each of said leg members comprising a cross piece swingably received in the bearing sleeve of one of the bearing members, and a leg extending away from the cross piece of the bearing member associated therewith, the main bar being supportable by the leg members with the main bar resting on the cross pieces thereof.

3. A bar unit comprising an elongated main bar, spaced tracks on the underside of said main bar, each of said tracks being of substantially Z-shape and comp-rising a flange attached to the underside of said main bar and `a second ange extending cantilever-fashion `from the irst mentioned flange spaced below lthe main bar, a bearing member spanning said tracks, said bearing member cornprising a pair of spaced rigid strips, each end portion of each strip being received between the cantilever flange of one of the tracks and the underside of the main bar,

and a U-shaped bearing sleeve linking the strips, and a leg member comprising la cross piece swingably received in the bearing sleeve, and a leg extending away from the cross piece of the bearing member associated therewith, the main bar being supportable by the leg member with the main bar resting on the cross piece thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,743,863 Northrop Jan. 14, 1930 1,781,562 Wallis Nov. 11, 1930 1,827,128 Wege Oct. 13, 1931 2,305,244 Erickson Dec. 15, 1942 2,533,313 Flicker Dec. 12, 1950 2,556,261 Dubach June 12, 1951 2,801,144 Mutchnik July 30, 1957 2,825,611 Aynesworth Mar. 4, 1958 2,830,825 Webber Apr. 15, 1958 2,833,608 Tobias May 6, 1958 2,918,107 Cote Dec. 22, 1959 

